As my grandma always told me, never doubt your creative abilities because if you take the time to learn, you can make anything. 

Carolyn Louise Graham had many creative endeavors. She was a seamstress, woodworker, knitter/crocheter, painter, cake designer, and the list goes on. She wasn’t just good at what she did, she was the best. What made her art truly special was that everything she created was for others. I can’t recall a time she kept her work for herself. She intended to touch others with everything she created. Her pieces were gifts, which made them all the more special. 

She did do one thing for herself, and that was making clothes. She adored fashion. Every piece she put on was thoughtfully created and adorned with the most intricate accessories. The number of accessories she had was endless. After she passed, I went through every piece and ultimately filled up an entire storage bin full of her jewelry. It was so sweet to see all of the pieces she treated herself to, and made me so happy she was doing something for herself. 

Her love of art was what made me want to do fashion design. She taught me so many things, but what stuck with me most was art isn’t just for yourself, it’s to love and appreciate others. What she made was not just beautiful, it was sustainable, and attended to the needs of who she gifted it too. I want to make clothing that serves the same purpose and makes people feel like they have a Meemaw of their own.